Uswitch before moving in

JuicyJesus

We're moving into a new flat on the 16th of this month, it's currently supplied by energy supplier A. We've just now put through a switch to energy supplier B using USwitch, which should therefore complete on the 22nd of this month (two week cooling off period plus three working days). Am I right in thinking that then all we need to do on moving in is give energy supplier A our opening meter readings to open an account on their standard variable rate, and then the supply will be taken over by energy supplier B shortly afterwards without any hitches?

bonus2010

Providing you're currently responsible for the supply to new flat, I can't see how there would be any problem

Edit: Sorry I feel I've misread your question. Your opening reading would be on the day you took over responsibility of the supply. You'd need to open an account with the supplier currently supplyuing before initiating a switch...

[Deleted User]

Advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau about house moving and dealing with this can be found at
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/moving-home-your-energy-supply/moving-home-dealing-with-your-energy-supply/

But this is the important bit for your question

You can only change suppliers from the day you become responsible for the property

So no jumping the gun is allowed.

JuicyJesus

bonus2010 wrote: »

Providing you're currently responsible for the supply to new flat, I can't see how there would be any problem

Edit: Sorry I feel I've misread your question. Your opening reading would be on the day you took over responsibility of the supply. You'd need to open an account with the supplier currently supplyuing before initiating a switch...

Well, b*gger. What now? Obviously I'd open an account with supplier A on the move-in day, and give supplier A the correct opening reading for the move-in day (and supplier B the correct opening reading for the supply switchover date), but that wouldn't hurt the switch surely?

bonus2010

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Well, b*gger. What now? Obviously I'd open an account with supplier A on the move-in day, and give supplier A the correct opening reading for the move-in day (and supplier B the correct opening reading for the supply switchover date), but that wouldn't hurt the switch surely?

So when you move in or which is the same day you take responsibility you give opening reading to energy supplier currently supplying flat --- you receive account number.

You can only initiate a switch if you currently have an account with supplier A...supplier B must wait 14 days (ccoling off period) + 3 days.. that's your scheduled switch day.

in short, you can't switch until you have account with A. I thought you had talready taken over the flat but weren't moving in till a fortnight later... you need to have account with A first... would be great if it could work as you suggest, but it doesn't.

JuicyJesus

Again: b*gger. So what should I do now? Uswitch have my switch details - I did speak to supplier A and they should theoretically be able to get me an account set up in advance also, hopefully that's enough to make sure this is all OK?

bonus2010

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Again: b*gger. So what should I do now? Uswitch have my switch details - I did speak to supplier A and they should theoretically be able to get me an account set up in advance also, hopefully that's enough to make sure this is all OK?

My theory is on switching, is that nothing actually happens until supplier B puts an application to request a switch to the National database and that happens after the cooling off period which is 14 days minimum.

If supplier A has got your correct details on that day of request then I would think there's a chance it will switch, but if the bill payers details aren't correct it will be an automatic reject.

Hey, best of luck, love to know if it works for you.


As for meter reads and all that, there's usually at least a week to provide them,

JuicyJesus

Cheers for your advice - I contacted supplier A this morning and they've got an account set up ready for me for the 16th, based on your theory (which tallies with my understanding) the actual switch switch won't start until the 17th (possibly even the 18th) so that should dovetail nicely.

I'll come back and say how it all went, assuming I've got time in between putting together mountains of flatpack stuff...

Benight

We did this a couple of months ago, no problem

JuicyJesus

Update: Switch is set for the 25th, Supplier A have had notice of it, they set me up an account no issues, have taken opening meter reads and confirmed that the switch to the other supplier will go through as planned.

Obviously under advisement until the 25th rolls around but looks like it'll go through fine.

Thomas_Edison

Suppliers send their registration for a supply the day the switch is requested, not after the cooling off period.

Requesting the switch before you take over is a grey area as the switch will be taking place when you're responsible.

It may mean the current resident is notified that the supply is leaving the current provider which can cause confusion.